I am delighted to share that Kiely Fletcher has been selected to join Ohio State as our new vice provost for strategic enrollment management, effective June 15. She becomes the next leader of the Office of Strategic Enrollment Management following last summer’s departure of James Orr.
Currently, Kiely serves as the vice provost for enrollment management at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), where she leads a team of more than 160 colleagues overseeing UIC’s financial aid, registration services, student system services, admissions, and student recruitment functions.
During her tenure at UIC, the university achieved record enrollment growth, reaching the highest headcount in institutional history in fall 2025 — a 6.3% increase since 2022, including an 11.3% rise in undergraduate enrollment and a 27.4% increase in first-year students. Through strategic aid optimization, improved transfer pathways, and community partnerships, UIC increased transfer enrollment by 16% and expanded access for Illinois residents by more than 11%.
At Ohio State, Kiely will report to me and be responsible for working across all campuses and with each of our 15 colleges to establish comprehensive strategic initiatives that will help fulfill our strategic plan. She brings nearly a quarter-century of experience in higher education administration to her new role.
In leading the Office of Strategic Enrollment Management, she will prioritize academic excellence and access, and establish systems and procedures that strengthen our university’s ability to attract and support undergraduate and graduate students from varied backgrounds and experiences.
Kiely’s arrival on the Columbus campus will mark a return to familiar ground for her. Early in her career, she worked at the Colleges of Medicine and Pharmacy, and the Office of Student Financial Aid, where she gained experience coordinating financial aid programs and counseling undergraduate and graduate students. In addition, she is a proud Buckeye alumna, having earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Ohio State. She is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education at Loyola University Chicago, with an anticipated completion in May 2027.
I am grateful for the dedication of the members of the search advisory committee, which was co-chaired by Melissa Shivers, senior vice president for student life. In addition, I am deeply appreciative of Damon Jaggars, vice provost and dean of University Libraries, for his service and steady leadership as interim vice provost for strategic enrollment management.
I look forward to Kiely Fletcher’s return to the university next month, and I invite you to please join me in welcoming her to our Ohio State family.
Sincerely,
Trevor Brown
Interim Executive Vice President and Provost